Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Shines on PC, Falls Flat on Steam Deck

A Deep Dive into Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – A Steam Deck and PS5 Review in Progress

For years, many eagerly awaited Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a sequel to the original Space Marine. My own journey began with Total War: Warhammer, leading me to explore the broader 40k game universe, including favorites like Boltgun and Rogue Trader. I initially sampled the first Space Marine on my Steam Deck, piquing my interest for the sequel. After the impressive reveal of Space Marine 2, I was eager to experience it.

Over the past week, I've logged approximately 22 hours with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 across my Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and online multiplayer. This review is ongoing for two key reasons: a complete assessment requires thorough cross-platform multiplayer testing, and Focus and Saber are actively developing official Steam Deck support, targeting year-end release.

Given Space Marine 2's cross-progression, I was keen to see its Steam Deck performance. The news is mixed, and this review will cover gameplay, online co-op, visuals, PC port features, PS5 performance, and more. Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 shots are from my PS5 playthrough. Testing utilized Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter that's brutal, visually stunning, and incredibly fun, even for 40k newcomers. A concise tutorial introduces combat and movement basics, leading to the Battle Barge hub where missions, game modes, and cosmetics are managed.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. Controls and weapons feel perfect. While some may favor ranged combat, I relished the visceral melee combat and satisfying executions. The campaign is enjoyable solo or with friends in co-op, though defense missions are less engaging.

Playing with a friend overseas, Space Marine 2 felt like a high-budget, modern take on Xbox 360-era co-op shooters, a genre rarely seen today. It's as captivating as Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. I hope Saber and Focus collaborate with SEGA to modernize the original game's campaign.

My Warhammer 40,000 experience stems primarily from Total War: Warhammer, Dawn of War, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader. Despite this, Space Marine 2 is a refreshing and fantastic co-op experience. Whether it surpasses my other 40k favorites remains to be seen.

Early co-op impressions are superb, though a final judgment awaits full launch and random matchmaking. I'm eager to test online play extensively this week.

Visually, on PS5 and Steam Deck, Space Marine 2 is a masterpiece. The 4K mode on PS5 (on my 1440p monitor) is breathtaking. Environments are detailed, and the sheer number of enemies, textures, and lighting create a vibrant world. This is enhanced by superb voice acting and extensive customization options.

A photo mode (available in single-player) allows adjustments to frames, expressions, characters, FOV, and more. Note that on Steam Deck, some effects may appear less polished with FSR 2 and lower resolutions. The PS5 photo mode is exceptional.

The audio is equally impressive. While the music is good, it's the voice acting and sound design that truly shine. The music fits perfectly within the game but lacks standout tracks for standalone listening.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options

The PC port, tested on Steam Deck, offers extensive graphical settings. Epic Online Services are integrated but don't require account linking. Options include display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (Balanced, Performance, Ultra Performance), upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution targeting, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and granular quality settings for textures, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and more.

DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned post-launch. I anticipate significant Steam Deck benefits from FSR 3. 16:10 support is also hoped for in future updates.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options

The PC port supports keyboard and mouse, along with full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts were absent on Steam Deck, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive trigger support is available, and remapping options are extensive. The DualSense controller (over Bluetooth) displays PlayStation prompts and supports adaptive triggers wirelessly.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance

On Steam Deck, I experienced initial freezing (only during startup) on default and Experimental Proton, but Proton GE 9-9 was stable. While technically playable without configuration changes, the game pushes the Steam Deck's limits.

At 1280x800 (16:9) with low settings and FSR 2.0 at Ultra Performance, maintaining a locked 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips into the mid-20s, even lower in intense combat. Lower resolutions still result in sub-30fps performance. Ideally, a stable 30fps should be achievable, but it's currently unattainable in my 10 hours of testing.

Dynamic upscaling targeting 30fps, even with low settings, results in frequent drops to the low 20s. While visually acceptable, the game is currently too demanding for the Steam Deck. Improper exits also require manual force-closing.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer Impressions

Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck, unlike some games with anti-cheat restrictions on Proton/Linux. Co-op play with a friend in Canada was smooth and enjoyable. Internet-related disconnections occurred, but these are expected on pre-release servers. Further testing with random players and friends post-launch is planned.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features – DualSense, Activity Cards, and Performance Mode

On PS5, using performance mode, the game runs well, though a locked 60fps isn't consistently achieved. Dynamic resolution/upscaling seems present, causing noticeable blurriness in large battles. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards support various modes and save file access. Gyro support is currently absent.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Cross-Save Progression

Cross-progression between Steam and PS5 is functional (though a two-day cooldown exists between syncs). Confirmation on whether this cooldown persists in the final build is pending.

Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Worth It for Solo Play Only?

A definitive answer requires further testing with populated servers and random matchmaking. Eternal War (PvP) mode also remains untested. This review will be updated accordingly.

Desired Features for Future Updates

Post-launch support is expected, and I hope to see proper HDR support to enhance the game's visuals. While DualSense implementation is good, haptic feedback would be a welcome addition (it's not present at launch, but hopefully planned).

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. Gameplay is superb, and visuals and audio are top-notch across platforms. While I don't recommend Steam Deck play currently, the PS5 version is highly recommended. A full review and score will follow after complete multiplayer testing and post-launch patches.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA